ATA Advanced Manufacturing Technology- Welding and Fabrication (92 credits) Today, welders use automated as well as manual methods of joining metal parts through a process of heating the metal pieces and then melting and fusing them together to form a permanent bond. Welders may find employment in places such as: manufacturing and repair shops, shipbuilding yards, the aerospace industry, construction of buildings, bridges and other structures; also joining pipes for pipelines, power plants, refineries and the high tech sector using CNC controlled equipment.